Absentee ballots are now available for the May 5 special election.

Voters on the Permanent Mail Ballot List who have elections in their communities will automatically be mailed a ballot and should be receiving it shortly. All other voters who wish to vote by mail must apply for an absentee ballot either online or by submitting a paper application to their city or township clerk.

Now is a good time to check if your community is having an election on May 5. You can do this by contacting your city or township clerk or by visiting Michigan Voter Information Center at mi.gov/vote and selecting “Your voter information.” There, you can also confirm your voter registration status and whether you are on the Permanent Mail Ballot List.

If there is an election in your community, here are the key dates to know:

Key Dates for the May 5 Election

🗓️ Now:
Request an absentee ballot online or submit a paper application. If you are on the Permanent Mail Ballot List, you can skip this step.
*If you want to vote from home, we recommend you request your ballot no later than April 14 to give yourself enough time to receive your ballot, complete it, and return it to your city or township clerk by 8 p.m. on Election Day, May 5.

🗓️ March 26:
First day to vote in person at your city or township clerk’s office.

🗓️ April 20:
Last day to register to vote online or by mail.
*Starting April 21, you must register in person at your city or township clerk’s office with proof of residency.

🗓️ April 21:
Recommended deadline to return your absentee ballot by mail to avoid delays.
*After April 21, return your ballot in person to your clerk’s office or a secure drop box.
Military and overseas voters must have ballots postmarked by May 5 (Election Day) and received by May 11 to count.

🗓️ May 4 at 4:00 PM:
Deadline to vote in person with an absentee ballot at your clerk’s office.
*After this time, you must vote at your polling place on Election Day.

🗓️ May 5 – Election Day:
Polls are open from 7:00 AM to 8:00 PM local time.
You can still register and vote at your city or township clerk’s office until 8:00 PM.